MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur social summit criticizes the Pacific Alliance and blasts free trade

The Pacific Alliance last May announced the complete liberalization of trade among its members

The Mercosur social summit questioned any possible approach to the Alliance of the Pacific since it is an organization entirely dedicated to trade which would distract the Southern Cone countries from their social objectives.

“The Alliance of the Pacific is a proposal that is geared to divide the integration process in the south of the continent which is advancing at great sustained strides. It’s the wrong proposal, it will only cause a lot of noise in the region”, said Graciela Rodriguez member of the Brazilian network for the Integration of Peoples.

“Many social movements believe that experiments such as the Alliance are not the path to follow; free trade is not a solution, but rather thinking in the region and thinking about the production lines that empower and transform and not give continuity to a model that is only interested in the export of non processed commodities”, she added.

The Pacific Alliance which is made up of Colombia, Chile, Peru and Mexico had a great thrust last May when it agreed to a full liberation of trade eliminating tariffs, although with no timetable, which anyhow caused a great impression among Latam leaders and business representatives.

This was in contrast with Mercosur, conditioned by protectionist measures and obstacles to trade among its members, which is questioning the reliance and even viability of such a group.

Nevertheless Uruguay earlier this year was admitted as observer of the Alliance despite criticism form other Mercosur members and has plans to request full membership. Paraguay is on the same path and has completed all the requests to become an observer.

This obviously was a matter of debate at the social summit of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay (currently suspended) and Venezuela the latest incorporation).

“Evidently the continent’ right in alliance with the US are attempting against this integration process. Examples are more than evident…, it is evident that the Pacific Alliance is an instrument of that plan”, said Oscar Laborde Argentine ambassador from the Social Consulting Council.
 

Likewise Uruguayan Senator Roberto Conde received strong support when he argued that “Mercosur is far more that the idea of a free market, which is what the Latam countries from the Pacific Alliance preach”.

“They are Latinamerican brothers and companions in Unasur, but differently to them, we don’t believe that free trade is the instrument that guarantees inclusive development”, said the former Uruguayan Deputy Foreign minister.